metal cutting circular saws

[tigster]

well, now that i like my new porter cable 1410 dry cut saw, i have come down with carbide fever. i would like to add to my carbide collection and get a circular saw. i was doing some research tonight and was unable to come up with a brand and blade size that would be a good candidate. i like the porter cable, but their 7 1/4 saw has an arbor that is 20 mm, and blades are not easy to find, and are locked into a price when you do find them. other saws i wasn't sure of blade life or performance. so, any suggestions? i'm looking for a reasonably good saw, but also a supplier of reasonably priced quality blades of the right size. planning on using it to cut strips out of mild steel plate. thanks.

[84ZMike]

How much use are you looking at....I have the 7 1/4" from Bullet on my regular wood cutting saw and for the few times I use / need it it has worked well......Morse makes them as well , but the evolution saw they sell is $$$$....also look at TSC and Northern Tool as they have a metal cutting saw that is in the $100 range and blades are $30 ish
Mike

[dlancello]

Hi Tigster;
I bought a Harbor Freight 7 1/2 " on sale for $69.00. I haden't had any experience with the carbide tiped saws and figured I couldn't loose at that price.
The saw is of good quality for China but the blade is crap!
I just ordered a Morse blade (5/8" arbor) for $50.
The blade didn't burn up until I did a lot of 1\4" plate.

Dave Lancello
'

[salvageclaus]

I gave around $300 for this saw about a year ago and I love it.
The blade that came with it lasted ok, when it went bad, I bought a Metal Devil
The saw is good for very thick plate steel if you watch the feed rate.
I mostly cut 1/4 inch.
Morse Metal Devil or Freud Diablo blades are the way to go for under $50

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416211VSV6L._AA280_.jpg

Milwaukee 6370-21 13 Amp 8-Inch Metal Cutting Circular Saw

[jamesdart]

at work we use the morse and evolution saws. they both work nice. the evolution has an overload that seems to trip too easy. the morse does not have it and seems to have more power, but it is not made as well. while cutting the blade guard will just fall off which is not cool. one guy took it and tied it all together with wire and electrical tape to keep it fro mfalling apart. the evolution saws arent priced too bad, im not sure about the morse, i think they are new.

[tigster]

how do the freud diablo and metal devil blades compare? i didn't see a 8" freud diablo available. could i put a 7 1/4 blade on a 8" saw, or would the blade and saw be a mismatch as far as rpm to blade size?

[jeffgod]

I have the Milwaukee 8" circular saw and am very impressed with dry cut. Bought it for $200 at a closing out sale with case.

[Clay Walters]

I have the Harbor Freight metal cutting circular saw too. Love it. Have only cut 1/8" & 3/16" with it but it zips right thru them with the blade the saw came with.

After cutting some scrap (bed frame?) I can tell it dulled some but with new mild steel it was great.

Tried a metal devil in a standard saw which was more convenient since the shrouding was minimal. But the chip slinging was violent and after pulling burrs out of my cheek I stayed with the metal cutting saw after that.

Now, the metal devil aluminum cutting blade in a standard circular saw is fantastic. Still slings chips but they're so much lighter... no penetration in my face.

I wear close fitting goggles over my eyeglasses whenever I use either one!

Regards,

Clay

[tigster]

could someone provide me with a link to the harbor freight metal cutting circular saw? i can't seem to find it. thank you.

[mcarter1256]

I have been cutting with the Milwaukee 6370-21 for close to 4 years now and have never had trouble with either one of them(have two).The blades run around 60.00 bucks each but well worth it in time savings.I cut most any material/thickness witout any problems. HIGHLY RECOMENDED. Tried some of the off brands there is no comparaison.Just remember there are two differant blades from milwaukee, 42 tooth for thick metal(3/32 and up) and 50 tooth for thin metal (thinner than 3/32) know the difference in the blades and you should have no problems.

[smooth72]

I have this Rage saw and it cuts great. I notice that Sears has it in there catalog now. You have to use ear protection, cutting metal is very loud.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a156/smooth72/RAGESAW.jpg

[Broccoli1]

could someone provide me with a link to the harbor freight metal cutting circular saw? i can't seem to find it. thank you.

You can only get it at their retail stores- at least that how it was a few months ago.

For some reason they pulled it from the Web Store


http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=8897&CategoryName=POWER%20TOOLS&SubCategoryName=POWER%20TOOL%20SAWS

[tigster]

thanks, broccoli. they don't have any stores in my state, however. i'll probably go with the 8" milwaukee.

[mike6845]

I've been using a Bullet 7 1/2" blade on a Black and Decker power saw with very good results. The only problem is the metal chards that gets thrown up along with the noise. Wear lots of protection all the way around along with a good set of ear muffs, the stuff gets real nasty.

[tigster]

thanks for all the help. just bought the 8" milwaukee metal cutting circular saw. one more quick question, is a metal cutting circular saw a good choice for cutting expanded metal? thanks.

[SundownIII]

Tigster,

In response to your question about cutting expanded metal.

While I really like the way my metal cutting saw (Milwaukee) cuts plate, I'm not crazy about it on expanded metal. I've even tried using the Metal Devil thin steel blade, but it just seems a little too agressive and tends to bend the thin metal.

I've had better luck with a 4 1/2" grinder with a 1/16" cutoff wheel and a straightedge. Zips through the expanded metal like a hot knife in butter.

Just my experience. Others may have had different results.

[tigster]

thanks, sundownIII.